Despite a majority of actors and writers throughout Hollywood being on strike, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing most actors and performers, has permitted several independent projects to continue filming.So far, SAG-AFTRA has allowed 55 films to continue filming through independent film companies that are not affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers through major studio pictures and streaming companies.Typically during the strike, the union prevents actors and performers from acting and promoting movies in any way that may be released while the strike is ongoing. They also cannot attend any auditions or rehearsals or be a part of any step in the filmmaking process.However, some actors and performers in SAG-AFTRA have been given the approval to continue working on their films and cross the picket line without violating any of the strike’s rules. The independent film companies that have been given waivers to continue filming have agreed to the contract terms achieved when the strike is settled with the AMPTP. To be an independent film company, the company must have no major production company or movie studio providing any financial compensation. In this case, since the union is fighting with AMPTP, which includes companies such as Netflix, Warner Brothers, Discovery, BNC/Universal, Paramount and Amazon, actors in SAG-AFTRA will not be permitted to work on any productions that are funded by those major companies.So far, one of the most well-known independent film studios, A24, has been given waivers for two movies, “Death of a Unicorn,” starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and “Mother Mary,” which stars Anne Hathaway. The producers of the show, “The Chosen,” said they are still allowed to continue production because they have preemptively agreed to all of SAG-AFTRA’s requests. The season they are currently working on is independent and funded by donations. Actors Mark Wahlberg, Matthew McConaughey and Rebel Wilson have also been given exemptions from the strike and are being allowed to continue filming with independent studios.